Matt Lamb injury blow softened by new two-year Warwickshire contract

The 24-year-old has been ruled out for two weeks after suffering a toe injury - but his immediate future remains at Edgbaston

• Rain helps Worcestershire hold-off Somerset
• County cricket transfers: Ins and outs

Confirmation that Warwickshire batsman Matt Lamb has signed a new contract has been tempered with news he will miss the next two weeks of the campaign with a toe injury.

The 24-year-old was struck during the Bob Willis Trophy draw with Somerset at Edgbaston, resulting in a fracture.

He is now expected to miss the trip to Worcestershire and the start of Birmingham Bears' T20 Blast campaign.

But amid a period of uncertainty for county cricketers across the country, Lamb does at least have something to celebrate having been handed a new two-year extension by Warwickshire.

The right-hander has been an ever-present for the club this season, scoring one half-century in four innings.

Since making his professional debut in 2016 after coming through the club's academy he has scored 954 runs across all formats for the club.

"Having been part of the Club since an early age, I’m delighted to extend my time here for another couple of years," said Lamb, who is now contracted until the end of the 2022 campaign.

"I really appreciate the backing and the confidence that the current coaching team and management have in me. These next two years provide a good opportunity to develop my game further across all formats and to hopefully make major contributions to future success and to win trophies with this Club.”

Warwickshire sport director Paul Farbrace added: "Matt has worked very hard at his game and has grown a huge amount in the last 12 months to prove to all that he has a big future here at Edgbaston with the Bears.

"It’s great when players come through our pathway and into the professional ranks, but even more pleasing when they establish themselves in the first team. 

"Many local people in the game will be delighted to see Matt rewarded with this new contract and look forward to seeing him playing a bigger role for the county in the coming years.”

For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive four issues for £15

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.